UN: Drone Attacks Now Main Cause of Civilian Deaths in Sudan Conflict — At Least 880 Killed in Four Months

UN: Drone Attacks Now Main Cause of Civilian Deaths in Sudan Conflict — At Least 880 Killed in Four Months
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The United Nations has warned that armed drone strikes have become the principal driver of civilian casualties in Sudan’s ongoing war, with at least 880 civilians killed between January and April 2026 as a result of such attacks, according to a report from the UN Human Rights Office.

The figure represents more than 80 % of all conflict‑related civilian deaths recorded during that period, underscoring the deadly impact of unmanned aerial attacks in the conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which began in April 2023.

The UN said the Kordofan region has seen the highest number of fatalities, with strikes hitting populated areas and infrastructure, including marketplaces and residential neighbourhoods. On May 8 alone, attacks in South and North Kordofan were reported to have killed 26 civilians and wounded others.

UN human rights chief Volker Türk warned that the increased reliance on armed drones enables continued hostilities despite seasonal changes that once slowed ground fighting, and that the conflict risks entering a “deadlier phase” with broader geographic spread and more civilian suffering.

The United Nations has called on the international community to strengthen controls on weapon transfers — especially advanced drones — and to protect civilian lives and infrastructure under international humanitarian law.